Combined slate and ruler



(No Model.) K P. J. .OFFENBURGBR- COMBINED SLATEv AND BULBR. i

V10.549,526. Patented Nov. 12, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

FRANK J. OFFENBRGER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

COMBINED SLATE AND RULER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,526, dated November 12, 1895.

Application filed May 9, 1895. Serial No. 548,711. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, FRANK J. OFFEN- BURGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Slate and Ruler; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to school slates and rulers.

The object of my invention is to provide a ruler adapted to have a sliding engagement with a slate, and which shall be of such construction as to enable lines to be drawn longitudinally and crosswise of the slate.

With this object in view the invention consists of certain features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a slate and a ruler embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view.

l denotes a slate and 2 a ruler, which may be of any well-known or desired construction. To the frame of the slate, preferably at its side, is secured a guide-bar 3 by screws 4f, the heads of which are countersunk in the bar to be flush with its upper face, whereby a smooth unobstructed surface is provided. In crosssection the bar is of dovetail shape. The under side of the ruler near one of its ends is provided with a transverse recess 5, in which is secured a slide 6 by a screw 7, the head of which is also countersunk for obvious reasons. The slide is formed with a dovetail groove 8, which corresponds to the dovetail guide-bar with which it co-operates. A handle 9 may be secured to the ruler and will facilitate its movement. This construction enables the child to draw rapidly straight parallel lines across the slate, and in order that the lines may be drawn equal distances apart, I provide the guide-bar with any desired system of scales 10. To enable lines to be drawn at right angles to those drawn across the slate I have formed the ruler with a longitudinal slot Il, one wall of which is provided with a series of notches l2 to receive and guide the point of the pencil when the ruler is moved back and forth. The notches may be provided, like the guide-bar, with any suitable system of scales to allow the lines to be made equaldistances apart.

The guide-bar and ruler may be sold to the trade and then applied to the slates in use, or the slate may be placed upon the market with the parts attached.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Aruler adapted to have a sliding engagement with a slate, said ruler being provided with a longitudinal slot, one wall of which is provided with pencil seats, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a guide bar adapted to be attached to a slate, of a ruler having a slide adapted to engage the guide bar, said ruler being formed with a longitudinal slot, one Wall of which is provided with pencil notches or seats, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with a slate, of a ruler having a sliding connection therewith, said rulerbeing provided with a longitudinal slot having pencil seats in one of its walls, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK J. OFFENBURGER.

Witnesses:

J. D. HAMILTON, LAMBERT E. WALTEEISL 

